Coach: Bill McClement

Last year: Finished second at the NWC Championships. Finished fourth at the 2A Northwest District meet. Finished fourth at the 2A State Championships.

Returning state participants: Alyssa Porter (jr. 100, 200, 4x100*), Chantal Tran (100, 200, 4x100*), Mia Hodges (so. 800, 4x400), Bekah Jensen (sr. 800, 1,600, 4x400), Mary Dyrland (jr. 4x100*, 4x200), Crystal Cochrane (jr. 4x200, 4x400), Aurelia Carrillo (sr. 4x200), Katie Linton (jr. 4x400), Olivia Halverson (sr. high jump)

Others to watch: Nicole Burbank (jr. mid-distance), Ellie Kindlund (jr. jumps, pole vault), Lilly Hofstetter (jr. sprints,hurdles), Michaela Knutsen (jr. sprints), Hattie North (so. sprints, jumps), Maya Norton (jr. mid-distance), Clara Prentiss (jr. mid-distance), Izzi Roberts (jr. sprints, jumps), Leah Veldhuisen (so. mid-distance), Annie Waddell (so. sprints, hurdles), Katie Walker (sr. mid-distance), Hayley Walker (sr. mid-distance), Abby Walker (so. mid-distance)

Outlook: The Bellingham girls are in the mix to do something special this year, but don't tell them that. "It's nothing we've talked about," McClement said in a phone interview. "We're just going about the business of trying to do the right things in our training right now. It's not something we've even discussed." But the pieces are certainly there, as the Red Raiders return three members off their state championship 4x100 relay and, two off their second-place 4x200 relay and all four members of their seventh-place 4x400 team. Obviously, the sprints are going to be pretty strong, with Porter and Tran leading the way. "That's the result of (sprints coach Dena Birade)," McClement said. "She needs to be given credit for the way she's helped bring our sprints along - she and Laurent (Birade, who also coaches Bellingham's sprints)."

*Returning state champion

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.